I just started this program and I'm on session 2. I'm still finding it hard to get my self motivated to do it. But my main, absolute worst is the agoraphobia. I can't do anything or go anywhere. I just would love to find someone who suffers from this also to chat with on a regular basis. thanks

I do and I know there are others on here who have or still do as well. I sent you a PM.

I also struggle with this.

I have not left my house since june of last year.
After I finished session 2 (I've been working on session 3 now for two weeks) I was finally able to step foot outside my door. I'm still not able to go anywhere or drive yet, but at least I can go outside and sit in my yard.

I would also like to hear from other people who suffer like we do.

It always helps to know your not alone!

You guys are not alone. I suffered from severe agoraphobia for a year or more. I couldn't even get off the couch at times let alone step foot outside my door without panicing. But the good news for me was I found the program, did it whether I believed what it said, and now can leave my house. Yea me! I still have ify moments but do a much better job of comforting myself. I shop and actually try clothes on, I have gone to the Dr., I got my haircut. I still have a problem with driving and doing these things on my own, but it is so much more than I thought possible this time last year. I can also say that if I can do these things, then I will be able with practice and time to do all the other things I want to do. So keep hope, you can all beat agoraphobia with help from the program! Good luck to you all and remember you are not alone.

Hi Deener!!

Thank you sooo much for your reply, it really gives me hope!!!!

And wanted to say YAAAAAA FOR YOU !!!!!

I agree thank you Deener that has really lifted my spirits today knowing that it's possible to overcome this.

Hi everyone,

yeah I have been suffering from agoraphobia too.... I can get out of my apartment, but when I am at work, or at the grocery store I get really anxious. It sucks because my friends and my girlfriend are always trying to get me to do stuff with them, but just thinking about leaving makes me have an anxiety attack....What are peoples reactions to session two so far? It made me feel really good the first time I heard it, but today I feel like I took a step backwards (I had a really bad attack at work today that lasted an hour)....

Thanks everyone

I can leave my house and stuff, but i can't go too far. most of the time i need a person with my cuz i get too anxious when i go alone. I think i'm improving tho. My ultimate goal is to take a vacation. Haven't been on a vacation in years! no planes though!!!

To All,
I have posted this many times, but, I am not sure that you all have read the posting...So, here it goes...

I suffered from agoraphobic and lived in a panic attack for 21 years of my life, and I know how painful this condition can be...

When I first began having panic attacks, I had no idea what they even were. I had never heard of a panic attack in my life. Since, I had panic attacks everywhere I went, I became afraid to leave my home for the fear of having another one. I associated the places where I went with with the panic attacks. So, my world became smaller and smaller, and I felt so trapped living in my world of depression, fear and despair.

I never will forget the first time that I heard about a panic attack. I was 25 years old at the time, and was watching the Oprah Winfrey show. I saw people on there who suffered from agoraphobia and panic attacks. At least, then, I knew what was wrong with me...

The agoraphobia and panic attacks continued for another 15 years. I had ready every self-help book that I could come up with on this subject, to no avail...I felt so alone and different from everyone else...It was sooooo emotionally painful and exhausting!!!!!!

It was not until I found the MWC for "Attacking Anxiety and Depression" that I began to find hope. I can still remember how excited I was the day the program arrived in the mail...What did I have to lose??? I felt like I had no life, and that I just existed....kinda robotic....That has been almost 6 years ago, now!!!!

I did the program...I gave it my all and all. I worked really hard to replace those negative thoughts with more positive realistic ones. I listened to the relaxation tape, and did the workbook. I journalized daily...I wrote myself compassionate love letters...I did a lot of extras, also....I ordered the extra CDs from the
"Less Stress Magazine" and I used headphones for everything I listened to...I bought myself a portable cassette tape player, and some blank cassette tapes, and I recorded my own voice, using every positive affirmation that I could come up with....I worked on the fears that were effecting me the most...I would use my vivid imagination to imagine myself being the way that I wanted to be...

After about a month or so into the program; I decided it was time to put my new skills into action.

I never will forget the first day that I ventured outside alone. It was a beautiful summer day, and my mother suggested spending the day outdoors....And that is exactly what I did...I was fed up...I had been doing the program, but had not taken any type of action because of my fears....

I remember going up to an old abandoned school bus up in the woods not far from our home...My hubby had fixed it up, as a place for us to just kinda hang out, relax, and have cook-outs, and that type of thing....

I remember thinking all those negative, scary thoughts. Thoughts like..."What if I faint or die up here, and no-one will find me?"
I, also, began to replace these irrational negative thoughts with ones that made me feel more warm soothed and comforted. I had taken my journal with me, and I journalized my thoughts and all the beauty of my surroundings...I replaced the "what if" thinking with "so what if"....

I do have to admit that I did have a panic attack that day, but, I had already made up my mind to ride it out...so, for the first time in years, I did not run...I rode out that panic attack by using the deep-breathing techniques, and the positive affirmations...I did it...I did it...I did it...And, I did not die...I did not faint...And...I was soooo proud of myself...
I couldn't have been prouder, if I had climbed Mt. Everest....

I would say that was the day that I was well on my road to recovery... I no longer feared the panic attacks...They no longer controlled me; instead I controlled them...What a revelation!!!

After that day, life took on a whole new meaning for me...I finally felt alive...I knew that I was going to be okay...

So, I decided to live my life to the fullest...I would just drive, drive and drive...I became so spontaneous...I just couldn't get enough of this new-found freedom...and, I still can't....I love going for joy rides...I love exploring nature...I love sitting beside a creek-bank or a waterfalls. I love watching a little bird as it spreads its wings in flight. I love watching the squirrels scrambling up the trees...I love watching my birds eating from the outdoor feeder...I just love living..

Thanks to God and the "Midwest Center"...I no longer just exist...I truly live my life to its fullest...

I pray that this helps all of you struggling with agoraphobia, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks...God Bless You ALL!!!!

Sorry about the errors in typing...

Thank you soooo very much Ms T Bones!!!!

I too want to love living again...reading this gives me hope that someday I will overcome this just like you did....I'm still having a hard time with the journal part,but am trying to get the hang of that.

Again I can't thank you enough for sharing this!!! I will learn and continue to grow from every positive story I read.

I look forward to the day that I can walk down my driveway and take a stroll up the street and back without having to worry about the anxiety monster following me!!!

Thank you for replying to this topic!!!!

Dear Little Italy...Just stop and look that fear in the face...And say..Give me your best shot...Say things like...Come on fear is that the best that you can do??? Come on...Do this even when you are not having the panic attacks...

Remember there is nothing to fear, but fear itself....Please stop running...You cannot run from your own self...Accept that fear when it comes...Realize that it can not hurt you in any way...You are safe...Repeat this over and over...

Constantly check in on your thoughts...Replace those negative thoughts with ones that make you feel safe, content, healthy, warm and loving....
I wore a rubber band on my wrist, and every time I caught myself thinking a negative thought..I would flip it...That would bring me back into the present moment, and remind me to put a stop sign up in my mind's eye, and replace that negative irrational thought with one that was more realistic (positive)....

Remember, every time you run from a panic attack you are only adding fuel to it...You need to learn how to starve it...You can do this by facing it head on and not running...Make sure you use your deep-breathing techniques, and positive self-talk when you have that attack...Then demand it to give you it's best shot...

You may even choose to place a label on the panic attack...You could call it "Donald Duck" and imagine it having really big feet...You could say...Come on Donald Duck...Give me your best shot...You are just an illusion of my imagination, and I am not running from the likes of you...

And make sure to replace the "What ifs" with "So What Ifs"....

REMEMBER...YOU ARE THE ONE SCARING YOURSELF, AND BY DOING SO...YOU BRING ON THE BODY SYMPTOMS...YOU DO IT....JUST KNOWING THAT I WAS SCARING MY OWN SELF WITH MY NEGATIVE THOUGHTS HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY....

I pray this helped a little more...God Bless You On You Journey To Recovery!!!!

Ms. T Bones,

I really like your Donald Duck idea. I am going to start trying it out. I think its a good idea to try to turn your fear into something so ridiculous.

I suffer from agoraphobia. I have fear of large large stores, especially Wal-Mart, Lowe's Home Depot, the list goes on.

After listening to lesson 2 I finally got my nerve up to go into Lowes and walk around the store. I did take someone with me for support. It felt kinda scary- like waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never did.

I have kind of relapsed since then and need to go back and hear lesson 2 again.

I'm sorry that you have this too, but glad that we can be support for each other as we work through this.

Christina

hi all,
I used to have agrophobia. it was in 2004.I had retired from the military in 88.had spent 22 years and drove a transit bus for 10 years. after that I was resident manager of an apt building and had 2 more building and 6 houses to look after. it got so bad that i was afraid to go out. had gone through a divorce and had skin cancer.
I got the program and got the skills and tools to go out and try the things that made me afraid.
I hated stop lights and anything with lights or sirens.
I met a lady from where I grew up and it was 5 hours away and I knew that if I got on the highway I would have a heart attack and wreck and die lol.when I got on the highway there was a traffic jam and the traffic stopped and here I was scared to death. so I got out and walked around the old dodge camper.i met and talked to a few people and it helped some.the traffic moved and it was hot and I had no a/c.I finally got there and we met and have been married for a little over 4 years.
so let go of your fears and take baby steps.if I can do and and others can then you can as well.go to the store and if you only go in there you accomplished something.
get in the car and crank it up and back up and pull up and park. thats a beginning.before long you can go around the block.
take care and have a blessed weekend.if you want to read more its in my profile.thanks and sorry that it was a long post.God Bless
don
p.s. from someone that used to suffer from panic,anxiety,agrophobia,IBS,depression and derealization. then one day in 2006 I woke up and it was gone.